Henri I. Holocaust testimony

Identifier
HVT 4307
Language of Description
English
Level of Description
Collection
Source
EHRI Partner

Abstract

Videotape testimony of Henri I., a non-Jew, who was born in Ghent, Belgium in 1926. He recounts his father's death when he was four; his mother's remarriage; being raised by his grandparents in Oostakker until he was thirteen, then living with his mother and stepfather in Brussels; fleeing with them to Dunkerque as Germany invaded; returning to Brussels; distributing leaflets for the Resistance; briefly hiding a downed American pilot in their home in spring 1944; arrest with his parents on May 2, 1944; confessing, hoping it would be easier for his parents; imprisonment in St. Gilles; deportation with his stepfather to Schandelah in September; slave labor; helping his stepfather; Soviet prisoners stealing from them; a Hungarian prisoner doctor saving his life; his stepfather's transfer (he never saw him again); transfer in April to Wöbbelin; witnessing cannibalism; liberation by United States troops; repatriation to Brussels via Holland, Louvain, then Aarschot; assistance from the Red Cross; finding no surviving relatives; returning to his grandparents in Oostakker; a two-month hospitalization; and his mother's return. Mr. I. discusses relations between nationalities in the camps. He shows photographs.

Extent and Medium

2 videocassettes

Conditions Governing Access

This testimony is open with permission.

Conditions Governing Reproduction

Copyright has been transferred to the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies. Use of this testimony requires permission of the Fortunoff Video Archive.

Rules and Conventions

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Process Info

  • compiled by Staff of the Fortunoff Video Archive for Holocaust Testimonies

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Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.